A card that only the most dedicated Xboxer could love.
April 25, 2024 – Microsoft, in partnership with Barclays US Consumer Bank, has launched the Xbox Mastercard credit card. While the card was available to beta testers in the Xbox Insiders program since September of last year, applications are now open to anyone 18 and over in all 50 U.S. states.
Gamer Rewards
The Xbox Mastercard has no annual fee and offers rewards that the stereotypical gamer might like:
- 5 points per dollar spent on eligible products at the Microsoft Store
- 3 points per dollar on select streaming services (including Netflix, YouTube TV, Spotify, etc.)
- 3 points per dollar on dining delivery services (including Grubhub, DoorDash, Uber Eats, etc.)
- 1 point per dollar on all other purchases
New Cardholder Bonus
New cardholders will receive a bonus of 5,000 reward points after making their first purchase with the card. These 5,000 points have a value of $50 when redeemed.
Redeeming Points
Points are worth a penny each (e.g., 100 points equals one dollar in rewards), and can only be redeemed for Xbox/Microsoft related products, services and gift cards. This includes Xbox consoles, in-game purchases, digital games, gaming subscriptions, and other items through the Microsoft Store.
Extras
In addition to the basic rewards and redemptions listed above, Xbox credit card holders will receive (or may receive) these extras:
- Choice of five card designs, with option to personalize the card with the cardholder’s “gamertag”.
- Three months free of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate (if not already a Game Pass subscriber). Subscribers are automatically charged the regular monthly subscription rate after those three months unless they cancel the subscription.
- Upgrade to Level 2 in the Microsoft Rewards program.
- Three free months of Spotify Premium. Subscribers are automatically charged the regular monthly subscription rate after those three months unless they cancel the subscription.
- If a cardholder spends $7,000 or more within the first 12 months after opening the card account, they will receive 2 three-month codes to gift to others to try Game Pass Ultimate for the first time. (Those who get the codes will be automatically charged the regular monthly subscription rate after those three months unless they cancel the subscription.)
Our Hot Take?
The Xbox Mastercard is a credit card that the most dedicated Xbox gamers might choose to add to their wallets, but it makes no sense to use it as an everyday rewards card.
While the 5 points per dollar (5% reward) on Xbox-related purchases and the 5,000-point bonus are nice, the card’s other rewards can be matched or bettered by other cards on the market — and other cards wouldn’t restrict point redemption to only Xbox-related rewards.
Most of the extras on this card are not so much card perks as they are self-serving trial offers that Microsoft is using to lure cardholders into paid subscriptions. (Including the inevitable automatic billing to your credit card at the end of the trial period, something that no consumer prefers but every trial offer requires.)
Bottom line: Unless you are spending hundreds of dollars every month on Xbox games or related Xbox purchases, you can pass on the Xbox Mastercard.
Author: Adam Jusko